2 nabbed in P50-M cell card scam

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested a couple in Muntinlupa City for allegedly swindling more than 50 persons in an investment scam involving non-existent cell and call cards amounting to P50 million.

Arrested were Desirie Ocampo, 21, of Block 3 Lot 35 Camella Homes, Alabang, and her boyfriend Roberto Rojas, 32, RMT Industrial Complex, Tunasan, both in Muntinlupa City.

NBI Assistant Director Lolito Utitco presented the suspects yesterday in a press conference, which was attended by 20 of their alleged victims.

"Initially there were 50 complainants. We expect more victims to come forward and file their complaints," Utitco said.

He said the suspects have been charged with syndicated estafa as well as violation of the bouncing check law and securities regulation code after they failed to return the investment of the complainants.

The suspects denied the charges.

Morena Marquez, one of the complainants, said Ocampo contacted her and encouraged her to invest in her business of buying huge volumes of cell and call cards.

Ocampo told her that profits from the sale of the phone cards would be returned to investors as interest of their investment.

Marquez admitted to having received P20,000 as part of the 10 percent monthly interest of her initial investment of P100,000 last November, prompting her to invest another P100,000.

The NBI said the suspects initially made good their promise and managed to turn over interest in the form of post-dated checks. However, succeeding checks issued by the suspects bounced due to "a closed account."

Sensing something fishy, the complainants demanded their money which the two suspects failed to produce, prompting them to seek assistance from the NBI.